Process of preserving cork.



No. 830,831. PATENTED SEPT. 11, 1906 H. GRONWALD.

PROCESS OF PRESERVING CORK.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.10. 1905.

WITNESSES I %7N VENPR f ga 1 4 A TTOHNEYS.

'unrrnn srnrns noeo, enonwsnni or BERLIN. GERMANY.

PATENT orrron.

PRQCESS DE PRESERXHNG SGRK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1 1, 1908.

Application filed August 1.0, 1905. Serial No. 273,645.

This invention relates to the preservation of cork, and has among its objects to rovide a process for preserving cork in whic a disinfecting gas is thoroughly and rapidly forced into and removed from the pores. of

- the cork wherobv the bacteria are com letel destroyed and removed.

A further object of. the invention is to provide a pr cess for the purpose mentioned in which the cork While its ores are completely open and thoroughly c can is impregnated with a preservative ,substence; so that the pores are thoroughly filled therewith and the lgrcss of liquids and air into the body of the cork prevented.

ll ith these endother ends in view the inventionconsists in the novel procedure to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In carrying out the process the apparatus shown in the accompanying drawing in elevation and part section is used.

In t is chamber A, which is surrounded by s hosting-jacket m, is provided a wireonzo basket or drum K, which is adapted to e roteted by gearing C. The chamber A is also provided vuth pipes g and d, which are connecte l with a formsklehvdecnerstor F and D nn-mein D, respectivelv. To this chemis also secured a. pipe provided with nfilterffor admitting air. At the side of the chamber A there are two openings (2 to allow the escape of the displaced gases. The opcn ings a are adept d to be closed by screws 8 or the like, and a cock is provided in each of the pipes mentioned for admitting air, steam, and the formaldehyde. In order to subscquently imprcgnotedhe corks with :1 substance, such as psr'sllin, ozokeritc, &c., adapted to class the pores of the corks to air and liquids, u distributing-pipe v is provided underneath the lid ohtho chamber A, said pipe being connected by a pipe 7* with uvessel P, containing the liquill-imprcgnating substance or preservative.

The operation of the apparatus is follows: After the rorks have been heated in the apparatus to about 100 CBZ1Ei"mlB, so that their pores are open, the 'sinfccting gus. such as fornnaldehyde, is admitted through the pi )e g. At the some time the wire-gauze drumli is rotated by the gearing C. By this means the gas is driventbroughthe corks. When the sterilizing operation is completed, thepipe g is closed and pipe Z and openings aopcned. When the drum K is again rotated, fresh air which penetrates into the corks is drawn in through the filter f, displaces the gas contained in the some, and escapes through a.

During this aerating process the corks are prevented from bemg entirely dried by now and again opening the cock m the pipe (1,

loading to the steam-main. As soon as the disinfecting-gases have been driven off the rotation of the drum K is stopped, the pipe Z and openings a are closed, and the inc 7', leading to the vessel P, conteinin t e impre lsting substance, is opened, W ereupon saic substance passes through the pipe {0 into the drum K, which latter is slowly rotated, so that the substance is distributed over all the corks, the pores of which are maintained in open condition by the host. Thereafter the drum K is again quickly rotated in order to cause the impre natin substance to penetrate the pores of t he corks and the excess to be driven off.

In addition, to keeping the poroso en in treating the corks with formaldehyc e the temperature of 80 to 100 centigrade must be maintained during the Whole operation for the further reason that the victor-vapor developed with the formaldehyde from formalin. would otherwise be condensed in the corks, and thus close the pores, or the formaldehyde would polymerize and be deposited in the corks.

In order to cause the disinfecting-gas to penetrate better and more quickly into the corks, tho latter are caused to move in regard to the more inert gas while the gas is being introduccd. For this purpose a centrifugal machine can be used with advantage. Such a nmvcmcnt is also necessary to completely expel the gas out of the corks by means of a sterile current of air and especially to carry out this operation quickly. In. doing this the c urrcnt of sterile a ir entering at the bottom of the apparatus drawn in energetically and blown out through a pipe provided at the top of the apparatus. In order to prevent the natural humidity of the corks from being lost owing to the heat and centrifugal motion to which they are subjected, the disiufectin chamber should be moistened by steam W e the .lisinfccting-gusesore being driven off.

This moistem'iig operation may be effected I tening the same, and finally impregnating intermittently. such cork with a preservative.

Having thus described my invention, I In witness whereof I have hereunto signed claim as new and desire to secure by Letters my name, this 29th day of July, 1905, in the 5 P&"It (;lnt f k 1 presence of two subscribing witnesses.

e recess 0 TGSBI'VIIIO cor W 0 1 consists in subjeetilig' the eerie to e dry heat, HUGO GRONWALD' moving the cork throu h a disinfecting gas Witnesses:

or vapor during such sulijection to heat, then HENRY HAsPER, 1o aerating the cork and simultaneously Inois- WILLIAM MAYNER. 

